Sen. Savino noted that while there's no shortage of well-intentioned legislation, including her own, the quest is stymied by a certain judgmentaliam: "Why not just leave?"

"I still hear this," said Sen. Savino, who was a social worker. "And all these years later, women are still afraid to come forward because the criminal justice system doesn't recognize them as victims."

Ms. Vasandani spoke about the plight of abused women who take matters into their own hands, while Ms. Sword discussed working on pending legislation, including the Jessica Tush Act, which would establish a domestic violence educational curriculum, and the Danielle DiMedici/Jessica Tush Act (both young Islanders were killed by ex-boyfriends), which would create a registry of domestic violence abusers.

In Ms. DiMedici's case, particularly, a domestic violence registry would have made a difference, Ms. Sword said.

Ms. Rose said domestic violence and abuse leads to "low self-esteem, manipulation and fear." And childhood bullying "leads to putting people in position of being victims of domestic violence," she postulated.

Also last night, the Staten Island New York State Women, Staten Island Chapter, played host to District Attorney Daniel Donovan, in the Staaten, West Brighton; he discussed his prosecution of domestic violence crimes.